What to do if you think someone is in your house at night?

What To Do When an Intruder Is in Your Home
  1. Verify their presence.
  2. Stay calm.
  3. Determine if you can escape.
  4. Stay put.
  5. Call the police.
  6. Keep quiet.
  7. Take notes afterward.


How can you tell if someone is breaking into your house at night?

Here's seven signs worth watching out for.
  1. Ads, Stickers, and Flyers. ...
  2. Strange Markings. ...
  3. Unfamiliar People and Cars on the Street. ...
  4. Request for Emergency Assistance. ...
  5. Unlocked Doors and Windows. ...
  6. Broken Outdoor Lights. ...
  7. Increased Door-to-Door Activities.


Should you call 911 if you think someone is in your house?

Call the Police

You should always dial 911 immediately if you sense an intruder in your home so the emergency operator can contact the police and dispatch them to help you. When you make this call, again, it's important to stay calm and whisper, so the intruder doesn't hear you.


How do you scare burglars away?

Get More Tips
  1. Don't advertise big buys. An empty computer or television carton left on the curb is a flag to crooks. ...
  2. Ask for a reference. Before hiring anyone, get personal recommendations. ...
  3. Keep your mail out of reach. ...
  4. Stay well-trimmed. ...
  5. Get a virtual pet. ...
  6. Call the police. ...
  7. Know your neighbors.


What to do if someone is in your home?

What to Do if Someone Breaks into Your Home
  1. Verify an intruder is in your home. ...
  2. Avoid confrontation with trespassers.
  3. Try to get away from the invader, while being as quiet as possible.
  4. Try to hide behind a locked door like a bedroom, closet, office or bathroom.
  5. Once you've secured your position, try to call the police.


15+ Unusual Tricks to Make Burglars Stay Away from Your House



Is phrogging common?

Awareness of the term further increased in 2022 due to the premier of the true crime series Phrogging: Hider in My House, which depicts real-life reports of the practice. Still, real-life instances of the practice are rare, and increases in awareness of the term are often tied to depictions in pop culture.

How do you know if your house has been marked?

11. Other Possible Signs
  • Unfamiliar Vehicles: New Cars or Vehicles on the Street or Neighborhood.
  • Strangers Walk around the Street or Neighborhood.
  • Door-to-door Scams.
  • Mark the House with Flyers or Stickers.
  • Toilet Excuse.
  • Strangers Request for Help with Different Excuses.
  • Strange Markings around the House.


Which houses do burglars avoid?

For this reason, burglars usually avoid two story homes, since these items will more than likely be upstairs in the master bedroom and burglars like to minimize the time they stay in a home. For this same reason, burglars usually avoid apartments located on the higher floors.


What do burglars fear most?

Burglars are most likely to be put off breaking into homes by CCTV cameras and barking dogs, according to a panel of former criminals.

What burglars want most from your home?

Burglars also don't want to spend too long in your house, so they'll likely take off with whatever is handy and profitable. Jewellery, consumer electronics like phones, tablets and laptops as well as portable hardware tools and equipment all rank highly as stolen goods claimed under insurance[1].

Can you call the police if you think someone is in danger?

If you know someone who is a victim or you suspect is a victim and is in need of urgent assistance, you can call Triple Zero (000) and remain anonymous. If urgent assistance is not needed then you can call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 and report your concerns.


What not to call 911 for?

Do not call 911 for information, minor illness or injury, for your pets, or when your power is out. Whenever a 911 operator has to deal with non-emergency calls, it could cause a life-threatening delay in getting emergency assistance to someone who really needs it.

When should you call 911 or mentally ill?

Is the person in danger of hurting themselves, others or property? This can include both actions and threats. Remember the definition of violence and all that it entails. If the answer is yes, you need to call 911 and ask for immediate assistance or activate the emergency alert system.

What time of night do most burglaries happen?

When do most burglaries take place?
  • Most home burglaries take place during the day. While the darkness tends to cause apprehensive feelings, most burglars actually prefer to break in during the day. ...
  • Most home burglaries occur between 10 am and 3 pm. ...
  • More burglaries occur in the summer months than in the winter months.


What time do most robberies occur at night?

Thieves Tend to Break In Between 10 AM and 3 PM

Movie after movie depicts thieves sneaking into houses under the cover of darkness.

Where do most burglars enter the home?

These are the most common points of entry for home break-ins:
  • Front door: 34% of burglars twist the doorknob and walk right in.
  • First-floor windows: 23% use a first-floor open window to break into your home.
  • Back door: 22% come in through the back door.
  • Garage doors: 9% gain entrance through the garage.


Does leaving a light on at night deter burglars?

No, leaving lights on can make intruders think that you're not home. Use a motion sensor light that turns on when you, or anyone else, comes near so you have light only when you need it.


What rooms do burglars target?

What items do burglars look for in a home?
  • The first place most burglars look is the master bedroom [2].
  • Many burglars then move on to a study, library, or office where electronics are located.
  • Bathrooms are also popular, where the thief goes through your medicine cabinet.


What type of houses do burglars target?

As for what burglars want to see when checking a house, they look for a property that has easy access to enter and exit without being seen. Here are some of the other things they look for: Unlocked windows and doors, open windows, doggy doors, and open garages are all signs a home may be easy to enter.

How can you tell if someone is watching your house?

Signs a Burglar is Watching Your House
  1. Strange Cars Parked in Your Neighborhood. ...
  2. Strangers Walking Down Your Street. ...
  3. People Pretending to Conduct a Survey. ...
  4. People Pretending to Sell You Something. ...
  5. Strangers With an Emergency or in Need of Help. ...
  6. Strangers Taking Pictures of Your Home. ...
  7. Random Flyers Showing Up on Your Door.


What do most burglars steal?

Top 10 items stolen in home invasions/burglaries
  • Electronics. ...
  • Prescription drugs. ...
  • Cars and parts. ...
  • Clothes. ...
  • Furniture. ...
  • Bicycles. ...
  • Personal documents. ...
  • Firearms. Firearms are one of the most stolen items in home invasions.


What time do most home invasions occur?

Frequent home invasions happen between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm when the home owners are commonly away from the home. However, 27.6% of all home burglaries, someone is home during a burglary.

Do burglars knock on the door?

As we mentioned above, burglars may knock on your door to see if anyone is home before attempting to enter your home. Here's the catch... some burglars will try to force their way into your home regardless of whether someone is home or not. So making sure your door is locked is an important first step.


Where do burglars not look?

Your attic is not likely to be visited by a burglar because they are usually hard to find and access. So, it is always a good idea to store valuables in attic storage containers. As an extra safety precaution make sure to mark them with labels like “winter clothes” or “old shoes” to throw a burglar off of your scent.

What to do if someone is sneaking around your house?

If you happen to catch someone sneaking around your house or breaking in, it's best not to confront the person yourself. Contact the authorities immediately and inform them of the situation. Keep watching the suspect on the camera, making note of anything they break or steal, and the time that the incident occurs.